Systems and methods for providing item sales and delivery service

ABSTRACT

A method and system for providing item sales and delivery service (see FIG.  1 ) consistent with the invention includes arranging over a communications system ( 170 ) a sales transaction of an item ( 110 ) between a seller ( 105 ) and a buyer ( 155 ), sending the item through a delivery system directed toward the buyer, and making a payment for at least one of the following: a purchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the Applicant claims thebenefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/230,798, filed Sep. 7,2000 and U.S. provisional application No. 60/286,540, filed Apr. 27,2001, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of providing itemsales and delivery service. More particularly, the present invention, invarious specific embodiments, involves methods and systems directed toarranging over a communication media a sales transaction and delivery ofan item between a seller and a buyer.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independentgovernment agency that provides mail delivery and other services to thepublic. The USPS is widely recognized as a safe and reliable means forsending and receiving mail and other items. With the advent and steadygrowth of electronic mail and electronic commerce, the physical mailstream will increasingly be utilized for sending and receiving packages.In the context of electronic commerce specifically where a seller has anitem to sell and a buyer has a need for the item, the sale of the itemmy require facilitation from a third party for financial arrangements orfor delivery of the item. For example, if the agreement to sell the itemis done remotely between a seller and buyer who are complete strangersor otherwise have no trust in the other party's ability to perform theirrespective portions of the bargain, a trusted third party may provide ameans to transfer payment for the item or to provide delivery of theitem.

[0004] Therefore, the need to efficiently provide item sales anddelivery service has become a common need for the United States PostalService and many other organizations. More specifically, efficientlyarranging over a communication media a sales transaction and delivery ofan item between a seller and a buyer has become a critical service formany delivery system operators. This is because in an increasinglycompetitive environment, meeting and exceeding the expectations of thosewho receive a service is essential for a service provider.

[0005] One solution to the item sales and delivery service problem isfor the seller and buyer to use a person-to-person payment system, forexample, over the Internet. In this situation, a buyer agrees to buy anitem online from another individual, for example, at an online auctionsite. After the agreement as to the sale is made, the buyer must send apayment to the seller. Typically, the person-to-person payment systemhandles in the background the payment transaction, for example, a debitto the customer and a credit to the seller via credit card. Once theseller's account is credited, the person-to-person payment system cannotify the seller via email that the person-to-person payment system hasthe money. In a normal a person-to-person payment system, this is theend of the procedure.

[0006] Great inefficiencies are created in this procedure because, forexample, the delivery component of the procedure is not coordinated withthe financial aspects of the procedure. Accordingly, efficientlyproviding item sales and delivery service remains an elusive goal. Thus,there remains a need for efficiently providing item sales and deliveryservice. In addition, there remains a need for efficiently arrangingover a communication media a sales transaction and delivery of an itembetween a seller and a buyer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the current invention, an item sales anddelivery service methods and systems are provided that avoid theproblems associated with prior art item sales and delivery servicemethods and systems as discussed herein above.

[0008] In one aspect, a method for providing item sales and deliveryservice consistent with the invention includes arranging over acommunications system a sales transaction of an item between a sellerand a buyer, sending the item through a delivery system directed towardthe buyer, and making a payment for at least one of the following: apurchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services.

[0009] In another aspect, a system for providing item sales and deliveryservice comprises a component for arranging over a communications systema sales transaction of an item between a seller and a buyer, a componentfor sending the item through a delivery system directed toward thebuyer, and a component for making a payment for at least one of thefollowing: a purchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a fee forany other buyer-selected delivery-related services.

[0010] Both the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of theinvention and, together with the detailed description, explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a system for providingitem sales and delivery service consistent with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for providing itemsales and delivery service consistent with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3A is a flow chart of an exemplary subroutine used in theexemplary method of FIG. 2 for arranging a sales transaction of an itembetween a seller and a buyer over a communications system;

[0015]FIG. 3B is a flow chart of an alternate embodiment of theexemplary subroutine of FIG. 3A used in the exemplary method of FIG. 2for arranging a sales transaction of an item between a seller and abuyer over a communications system;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary subroutine used in theexemplary method of FIG. 2 for sending an item through a delivery systemdirected toward a buyer;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an exemplary subroutine used in theexemplary method of FIG. 2 for making a payment for at least one of thefollowing: a purchase price of an item, a delivery fee, and a fee forany other buyer-selected delivery-related services; and

[0018]FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary method of FIG. 2 for providing item sales and delivery serviceconsistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference will now be made to various embodiments according tothis invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawingsand will be obvious from the description of the invention. In thedrawings, the same reference numbers represent the same or similarelements in the different drawings whenever possible.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides an item sales and delivery service system 100. For example, abuyer 155 may elect to purchase an item 110 from a seller 105. Inarranging this purchase, a communications system 170, for example, theInternet, may be employed to facilitate buyer 155 and seller 105agreeing to item 110 and a price for item 110. An online auction site,for example, may be used for this function. In addition to this type ofarrangement, buyer 155 may elect to pay for the purchase and delivery ofitem 110 using a person-to-person system 185, also utilizingcommunications system 170. In this example, in order to pay for item110, buyer 155 may authorize person-to-person system 185 to transferpayment from a buyer account; the payment including a purchase price ofitem 110, a delivery fee, and a fee for other buyer-selecteddelivery-related services.

[0021] Person-to-person system 185 may then debit the buyer account inthe amount of the payment and place the payment debited from the buyeraccount into an escrow account. Person-to-person system 185 may thensend a notice, for example, an email, to seller 105 over communicationssystem 170 indicating that item 110 can be shipped. After the deliverysystem operator notifies person-to-person system 185 over communicationssystem 170 that the item 110 has been delivered, person-to-person system185 then makes a payment for at least one of the following: the purchaseprice of item 110, the delivery fee, and the fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services. Specifically, if buyer 155decides after receipt not to keep item 110, person-to-person system 185may then make the payment of the purchase price of the item 110 to buyer155. If buyer 155, however, decides after receipt to keep item 110,person-to-person system 185 may then make the payment of the purchaseprice of item 110 to seller 105. In any event, the delivery fee and thefee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services are paid byperson-to-person system 185 to a delivery system operator.

[0022] In the item sales and delivery process, seller 105 places item110 into a delivery system 130. Item 110 contains a label 115 indicatinga first address 150 of buyer 155 and a return address 107 indicatingwhere to return item 110 if necessary. Item 110 also contains a trackingindicia 120 identifying the sales transaction, relating seller 105 andbuyer 155. Tracking indicia 120 may be placed on item 110 by seller 105or the delivery system operator.

[0023] Item 110 is routed through delivery system 130, which comprises aseller plant 125, a delivery path 135, a first address plant 140, analternative address plant 145, and an alternative processing point 165.Delivery path 135 comprises a plurality of plants similar to sellerplant 125, first address plant 140, and alternative address plant 145.The plants within delivery path 135 contain, among other things,automated systems and sorting equipment and are designed to receive andprocess a plurality of items. Delivery system 130 is configured to sensetracking indicia 120 placed on Item 110 as it passes through theelements of delivery system 130 directing the movement of item 110through delivery system 130. In addition to facilitating the tracking ofitem 110 through delivery system 130, tracking indicia 120 identifiesthe sales transaction and relates buyer 155 and seller 105.

[0024] Tracking indicia 120 may comprise a bar code or a PLANET code. Abar code is a printed code used for recognition by a bar code scanner(reader). Traditional one-dimensional bar codes use the bar's width toencode a product or account number. Two-dimensional bar codes, such asPDF417, MAXICODE and DATAMATRIX, are scanned horizontally and verticallyand hold considerably more data. Generally, PDF417 is widely used forgeneral purposes, MAXICODE is used for high-speed sorting, andDATAMATRIX is used for marking small parts.

[0025] Historically, system operators sorted flat mail using POSTNET, a12-digit barcode consisting of alternating long and short barsindicating the destination of, for example, a mailpiece. Responding tothe expanding needs of users, particularly heavy volume users, PLANETcode was developed on the foundation of the existing technicalinfrastructure. The PLANET Code is the opposite of the current POSTNETcodes, reversing long bars for short and short bars for long. Thisinnovation offers the convenience of a bar code that is easily appliedusing current bar-coding methods, and is readily scanned by thehigh-speed automation equipment already located in the plurality ofplants comprising delivery system 130.

[0026] In the item sales and delivery service, item 110 is sent throughdelivery system 130 by seller 105 to first address plant 140. At anytimein the delivery process a determination may be made as to whether item110 is undeliverable. If it is determined that item 110 isundeliverable, item 110 may be forwarded to alternative processing point165 where an ancillary service may be performed. Examples of suchancillary services are recycle service (treating item 110 as waste),NIXIE service, and Computerized Forwarding Service (CFS).

[0027] With respect to NIXIE service, NIXIE is a classification given toan item that cannot be sorted or is undeliverable-as-addressed becauseof an incorrect, illegible, or insufficient delivery address. If item110 is undeliverable-as-addressed, address correction service (re-labelwith a correct address) or return service (return item to the sender)may be performed. In this case, a NIXIE operator specialized in thehandling of such items is required. If item 110 requires return service,return address 107 on item 110 is read and item 110 is sent to returnaddress 107 accordingly. Return address 107 is an element of item 110that is usually placed in the upper left corner of item 110 to indicatethe address of seller 105. This address indicates where seller 105 wantsitem 110 returned if it is undeliverable. In addition return address 107may indicate where seller 105 will receive a bill for any fees due forthe return of item 110. When item 110 requires address correctionservice, a NIXIE operator obtains the proper address of buyer 155 or thereason for non-delivery. While NIXIE processing may comprise addresscorrection service or return service, those skilled in the art willappreciate that may other types of NIXIE processing may be performed.

[0028] Computerized forwarding service is a centralized, computerizedaddress label-generating operation that forwardsundeliverable-as-addressed items to buyers. In this case, buyer 155 maypre-register an alternative address 160 of buyer 155 with the deliverysystem operator in order to have all items forwarded to alternativeaddress 160. For example, if buyer 155 moves and wishes to have itemssent to alternative address 160, buyer 155 notifies the delivery systemoperator of alternative address 160. Once the delivery system operatoris notified of alternative address 160, all items sent to first address150 are detected by delivery system 130, re-labeled, and then forwardedto alternative address 160. In the aforementioned computerizedforwarding service, items are forwarded only for a specific period oftime. The delivery system operator expects buyer 155 to contact each andevery seller who buyer 155 may expect to receive an item and notify thepossible sellers of the address change of buyer 155. After thecomputerized forwarding service time period is complete, the deliverysystem operator will cease forwarding items to buyer 155 and will returnto the seller 105 all items sent to first address 150.

[0029] If ancillary services were required, item 110 may remain atalternative processing point 165 or may be processed at an item recoverysection of alternative processing point 165. Item 110 may be recoveredby seller 105 or buyer 155 upon the completion of a tracer. A tracer isa form completed by seller 105 or buyer 155 to locate delayed orundelivered items. While item recovery may occur at alternativeprocessing point 165, those skilled in the art will appreciate that mayother types of processing may be performed at alternative processingpoint 165. While person-to-person system 185 is shown to be separatefrom delivery system 130, the functionality of person-to-person system185 may be performed under the control of the delivery system operatorat alternative processing point 165, at any point within delivery system130 or at any point outside delivery system 130.

[0030] Still referring to FIG. 1, person-to-person system 185, thedelivery system operator, seller 105 and buyer 155 may communicate witheach other over communications system 170. In the present embodiment,preferred methods of the invention utilize a seller computer 175, buyercomputer 180, delivery system operator computer (not shown), andperson-to-person system computer (not shown) contained withinperson-to-person system 185. These computers are typically personalcomputer or other similar microcomputer-based workstation. Those skilledin the art, however, will appreciate that seller computer 175, buyercomputer 180, delivery system operator computer, and person-to-personsystem computer may comprise any type of computer operating environmentsuch as hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-basedor programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, and the like. These computers may also be implemented indistributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices and have the capability of connecting tocommunications system 170. If the Internet is utilized as communicationssystem 170, this connection can be made utilizing e-mail generallythrough the use of a standard e-mail software package such as MicrosoftCorporation's OUTLOOK or GROUPWISE marketed by Novell, Inc. In thisexample where communications system 170 is the Internet, any notices,arrangements, communications, or general exchange of information may beaccomplished via e-mail. Seller computer 175, buyer computer 180, thedelivery system operator computer, and the person-to-person systemcomputer may connect to the Internet through an Internet serviceprovider (ISP) (not shown) in the manner known to those skilled in theart. In addition to Internet based e-mail, person-to-person system 185,the delivery system operator, seller 105 and buyer 155 may communicateover communications system 170 utilizing regular mail, facsimile, webpages, or an interactive voice response systems. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that many other types of communications system 170may be used.

[0031] In addition to utilizing a wire line communications system 170, awireless communications system 170, or a combination of wire line andwireless may be utilized in order to exchange e-mails via the Internetor for utilizing other communications media. Wireless can be defined asradio transmission via the airwaves, however, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that various other communication techniques can be usedto provide wireless transmission including infrared line of sight,cellular, microwave, satellite, packet radio and spread spectrum radio.Seller computer 175, buyer computer 180, delivery system operatorcomputer and person-to-person system computer in the wirelessenvironment can be any mobile terminal such as a smart phone, personaldigital assistant (PDA), intelligent pager, portable computer, hand heldcomputer, or any device capable of receiving wireless data. Wirelessdata may include, but is not limited to, paging, text messaging, e-mail,Internet access and other specialized data applications specificallyexcluding voice transmission. A PDA is a handheld computer that servesas an organizer for personal information. It generally includes at leasta name and address database, to-do list and note taker. PDAs aretypically pen based and use a stylus to tap selections on menus and toenter printed characters. The unit may also include a small on-screenkeyboard which is tapped with the pen. Data may be synchronized betweenthe PDA and a desktop computer through a cable or wirelesstransmissions.

[0032]FIG. 2 is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involvedin an exemplary method 200 for providing item sales and deliveryservice. The implementation of the stages of exemplary method 200 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in greater detail in FIG. 3 through FIG. 5. Exemplary method200 begins at starting block 205 and proceeds to exemplary subroutine210 where a sales transaction of item 110 between seller 105 and buyer155 is arranged over communications system 170. The stages of exemplarysubroutine 210 are shown in FIG. 3A and the stages of an alternativeembodiment of subroutine 210, subroutine 210′, are shown in FIG. 3B. Thestages of these subroutines will be described in greater detail below.

[0033] From exemplary subroutine 210 where a sales transaction of item110 between seller 105 and buyer 155 is arranged over communicationssystem 170, exemplary method 200 advances to exemplary subroutine 220where item 110 is sent through delivery system 130 directed toward buyer155. The stages of exemplary subroutine 220 are shown in FIG. 4 and willbe described in greater detail below.

[0034] Once item 110 is sent through delivery system 130 directed towardbuyer 155 in exemplary subroutine 220, exemplary method 200 continues toexemplary subroutine 230 where a payment is made for at least one of thefollowing: the purchase price of item 110, the delivery fee, and the feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services. The stages ofexemplary subroutine 230 are shown in FIG. 5 and will be described ingreater detail below.

[0035] Once a payment is made for at least one of the following: thepurchase price of item 110, the delivery fee, and the fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services in exemplary subroutine 230,exemplary method 200 ends at stage 240.

[0036] Arrangement of Sales Transaction

[0037]FIG. 3A describes exemplary subroutine 210 from FIG. 2 in which asales transaction of item 110 between seller 105 and buyer 155 isarranged over communications system 170. Exemplary subroutine 210 beginsat starting block 305 and advances to stage 310 where authorization isreceived from buyer 155 to transfer the payment from a buyer account forthe purchase of item 110. The buyer account transfer operation maycomprise billing buyer; debiting buyer's checking account, credit cardaccount, or debit card account; or receiving cash from buyer 155.

[0038] After authorization is received from buyer 155 to transfer thepayment from the buyer account for the purchase of item 110 in stage310, exemplary subroutine 210 advances to stage 315 where the buyeraccount is debited in the amount of the payment. Once the buyer accountis debited in the amount of the payment in stage 315, exemplarysubroutine 210 continues to stage 320 where an escrow account iscredited in the amount of the payment.

[0039] From stage 320 where the escrow account is credited in the amountof the payment, exemplary subroutine 210 advances to stage 325 andreturns to exemplary subroutine 220 of FIG. 2.

[0040] Item is Sent Through Delivery System

[0041]FIG. 4 describes exemplary subroutine 220 from FIG. 2 in whichitem 110 is sent through delivery system 130 directed toward buyer 155.Exemplary subroutine 220 begins at starting block 405 and advances tostage 410 where tracking indicia 120 is generated identifying the salestransaction and relates buyer 155 and seller 105. This generation oftracking indicia 120 occurs when a notice is received by seller 105 overcommunications system 170 that the sales transaction has been arranged.As stated above, tracking indicia 120 may comprise a bar code or aPLANET code. In addition to tracking indicia 120, label 115 indicatingfirst address 150 of buyer 155 and return address 107 indicating whereto return item 110 if necessary, may also be generated at this time.

[0042] After tracking indicia 120 is generated identifying the salestransaction in stage 410, exemplary subroutine 220 advances to stage 415where item 110 is placed in delivery system 130 directed toward buyer155 with tracking indicia 120 attached to item 110. Delivery system 130comprises seller plant 125, delivery path 135, first address plant 140and alternative address plant 145. Delivery path 135 comprises aplurality of plants similar to seller plant 125, first address plant 140and alternative address plant 145. The plants within delivery system 130may contain, among other things, automated systems and sorting equipmentlocated at a plurality of locations. In executing their function, theplants comprising delivery system 130 process item 110 by checkingaddress label 115 placed on item 110. Item 110 is then routed to thenext most appropriate plant in delivery system 130. The appropriatenessof the next plant in delivery system 130 depends upon the presentlocation of item 110 in delivery system 130 and where item 110 isaddressed. Ultimately, item 110 is routed in delivery system 130 to theplant that serves the delivery address indicated on item 110, accordingto established procedures. Thus item 110 is routed from plant to plantwithin delivery system 130 wherein item 110 efficiently converge onfirst address plant 140, which is the plant that serves the deliveryaddress labeled on the item 110. Throughout this process, deliverysystem 130 tracks the progress of item 110 through delivery system 130.

[0043] Once item 110 is placed in delivery system 130 directed towardbuyer 155 with tracking indicia 120 attached to item 110 in stage 415,exemplary subroutine 220 continues to stage 420 and returns to exemplarysubroutine 230 of FIG. 2.

[0044] Payment is Made

[0045]FIG. 5 describes exemplary subroutine 230 from FIG. 2 in which apayment is made for at least one of the following: the purchase price ofitem 110, the delivery fee, and the fee for any other buyer-selecteddelivery-related services. Exemplary subroutine 230 begins at startingblock 505 and advances to stage 510 where tracking indicia 120, whichidentifies the sales transaction and is placed on item 110, is read whenitem 110 is delivered to buyer 155.

[0046] After tracking indicia 120 is read, exemplary subroutine 230advances to decision block 515 where it is determined if the paymentincluded the purchase price. If it is determined that the paymentincluded the purchase price in decision block 515, exemplary subroutine230 advances to decision block 535 where it is determined if the paymentincluded a delivery fee. Decision block 535 will be discussed in greaterdetail below.

[0047] If at decision block 515 it is determined, however, that thepayment did not include the purchase price, exemplary subroutine 230advances to decision block 520 where it is determined if buyer 155wishes to return item 110. If buyer 155 wishes to return item 110 indecision block 520, exemplary subroutine 230 advances to stage 525 wherethe purchase price of item 110 is released from the escrow account tobuyer 155. After the purchase price of item 110 is released from theescrow account to buyer 155 in stage 525, exemplary subroutine 230advances to decision block 535 where it is determined if the paymentincluded a delivery fee. Decision block 535 will be discussed in greaterdetail below.

[0048] If it is determined however, that buyer 155 does not wish toreturn item 110 in decision block 520, exemplary subroutine 230 advancesto stage 530 where the purchase price of item 110 is released from theescrow account to seller 105. From stage 530, exemplary subroutine 230advances to decision block 535, where it is determined if the paymentincluded the delivery fee. If it is determined that the payment includedthe delivery fee in decision block 535, exemplary subroutine 230advances to stage 540 where the delivery fee of item 110 is releasedfrom the escrow account to the delivery system operator.

[0049] Once the delivery fee of item 110 is released from the escrowaccount to the delivery system operator in stage 540 or if it isdetermined that the payment did not include the delivery fee in decisionblock 535, exemplary subroutine 230 advances to decision block 545 whereit is determined if payment included any other buyer-selecteddelivery-related services. If it is determined that payment included anyother buyer-selected delivery-related services in block 545, exemplarysubroutine 230 advances to stage 550 where the fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services of item 110 is released fromthe escrow account to the delivery system operator.

[0050] Once the fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-relatedservices of item 110 is released from the escrow account to the deliverysystem operator in stage 550 or if it is determined that payment did notinclude any other buyer-selected delivery-related services in decisionblock 545, exemplary subroutine 230 continues to stage 555 and returnsto stage 240 of FIG. 2.

[0051] Alternate Embodiment of Arrangement of Sales Transaction

[0052]FIG. 3B describes exemplary subroutine 210′ which is an alternateembodiment of exemplary subroutine 210 from FIG. 2 in which a salestransaction of item 110 between seller 105 and buyer 155 is arrangedover communications system 170. Exemplary subroutine 210′ begins atstarting block 305′ and advances to stage 310′ where a receipt is sentto buyer 155 identifying the sales transaction and payment amount. Forexample, the receipt may comprise a bar coded label sent fromperson-to-person system 185 to buyer 155 via e-mail over communicationssystem 170. The bar coded label may contain data identifying the salestransaction and relating the seller 105 and buyer 155.

[0053] After the receipt is sent to buyer 155 identifying the salestransaction and payment amount in stage 310′, exemplary subroutine 210′advances to stage 315′ where the escrow account is credited in theamount of the payment when buyer 155 pays the amount of the payment at aretail unit. Continuing the previously mentioned example, the buyer 155may take the receipt comprising the bar coded label to the retail unitcomprising a convenience store, an automated teller machine, or a retailstore operated by the delivery system operator. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate that many other types of retail units may be utilized.Once at the retail unit, the receipt may be scanned and payment may betendered. This transaction is reported and the collected payment is sentto person-to-person system 185. With the payment received, the escrowaccount is credited in the amount of the payment. The reporting of thistransaction may be performed via communication systems 170.

[0054] Once the escrow account is credited in the amount of the paymentwhen buyer 155 pays the amount of the payment at the retail unit instage 315′, exemplary subroutine 210′ continues to stage 320′ andreturns to exemplary subroutine 220 of FIG. 2.

[0055] Alternative Embodiment of Providing Item Sales and DeliveryService

[0056]FIG. 6 is a flow chart setting forth the general stages involvedin an exemplary method 300 for providing item sales and deliveryservice. Method 300 is an alternative embodiment of method 200 as shownin FIG. 2 and discussed above. The implementation of stages of exemplarymethod 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention have been described in detail in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B above.Exemplary method 300 begins at starting block 605 and proceeds toexemplary subroutine 210 where the sales transaction of item 110 betweenseller 105 and buyer 155 is arranged over communications system 170. Thestages of exemplary subroutine 210 are shown in FIG. 3A and the stagesof an alternative embodiment of subroutine 210, subroutine 210′, areshown in FIG. 3B. The stages of these subroutines have been described ingreat detail above.

[0057] From exemplary subroutine 210 where the sales transaction of item110 between seller 105 and buyer 155 is arranged over communicationssystem 170, exemplary method 300 advances to stage 620 where thedelivery address for item 110 is provided by buyer 155 overcommunications system 170. When the internet is used as communicationssystem 170, the buyer 155 may send an e-mail containing first address150 to seller 105, or buyer 155 may send this information toperson-to-person system 185 which may in turn forward the information toseller 105.

[0058] Once the delivery address for item 110 is provided by buyer 155over communications system 170 in stage 620, exemplary method 300continues to stage 630 where the creation of delivery shipping labels isauthorized, the authorization performed by seller 105 overcommunications system 170 upon verification of the payment by buyer 155over communications system 170. These delivery shipping labels maycomprise label 115 and return address 107 and may be authorized usinginternet e-mail as communications system 170. After the creation ofdelivery shipping labels is authorized in stage 630, exemplary method300 advances to stage 640 where item 110 is transferred by seller 105 tothe delivery system operator for association of the delivery shippinglabel with item 110.

[0059] From stage 640 where item 110 is transferred by seller 105 to thedelivery system operator for association of the delivery shipping labelwith item 110, exemplary method 300 advances to stage 650 where item 110is delivered by the delivery system operator to buyer 155. Deliverysystem 130 comprises seller plant 125, delivery path 135, first addressplant 140 and alternative address plant 145. Delivery path 135 comprisesa plurality of plants similar to seller plant 125, first address plant140 and alternative address plant 145. The plants within delivery system130 may contain, among other things, automated systems and sortingequipment located at a plurality of locations. In executing theirfunction, the plants comprising delivery system 130 process item 110 bychecking address label 115 placed on item 110. Item 110 is then routedto the next most appropriate plant in delivery system 130. Theappropriateness of the next plant in delivery system 130 depends uponthe present location of item 110 in delivery system 130 and where item110 is addressed. Ultimately, item 110 is routed in delivery system 130to the plant that serves the delivery address indicated on item 110,according to established procedures. Thus item 110 is routed from plantto plant within delivery system 130 wherein item 110 efficientlyconverge on first address plant 140, which is the plant that serves thedelivery address labeled on the item 110. Throughout this process,delivery system 130 tracks the progress of item 110 through deliverysystem 130. Once item 110 is delivered by the delivery system operatorto buyer 155 in stage 650, exemplary method 300 ends at stage 660.

[0060] In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the presentinvention provides a system and method for item sales and deliveryservice. Still, it should be understood that the foregoing relates onlyto the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that numerouschanges may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for providing item sales and delivery service,comprising: arranging over a communications system a sales transactionof an item between a seller and a buyer; sending the item through adelivery system directed toward the buyer; and making a payment for atleast one of the following: a purchase price of the item, a deliveryfee, and a fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the arranging stage further comprises:receiving authorization from the buyer to transfer the payment from abuyer account for the purchase of the item; debiting the buyer accountin the amount of the payment; and crediting an escrow account in theamount of the payment.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprisingdebiting the buyer account by at least one of the following: billing thebuyer, debiting buyer's checking account, debiting buyer's credit cardaccount, debiting buyer's debit card account, and receiving cash fromthe buyer.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the arranging stage furthercomprises: sending to the buyer a receipt identifying the salestransaction and the payment amount; and crediting an escrow account inthe amount of the payment when the buyer pays the amount of the paymentat a retail unit.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending stagefurther comprises: generating a tracking indicia identifying the salestransaction when a notice is received by the seller over thecommunications system that the sales transaction has been arranged; andplacing the item in the delivery system directed toward the buyer, thetracking indicia attached to the item.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe making stage further comprises: reading a tracking indicia when theitem is delivered to the buyer, the tracking indicia identifying thesales transaction and placed on the item; and releasing the payment froman escrow account in response to reading the tracking indicia.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the releasing stage further comprises:releasing the purchase price of the item from the escrow account to theseller if the payment included the purchase price; releasing thedelivery fee of the item from the escrow account to a delivery systemoperator if the payment included the delivery fee; and releasing a feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services of the item fromthe escrow account to the delivery system operator if the paymentincluded the fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.8. The method of claim 6, wherein the releasing stage further comprises:releasing the purchase price of the item from the escrow account to thebuyer if the payment included the purchase price and the buyer decidesto return the item to the seller; releasing the delivery fee of the itemfrom the escrow account to a delivery system operator if the paymentincluded the delivery fee; and releasing a fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services of the item from the escrowaccount to the delivery system operator if the payment included the feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising utilizing in the communications system atleast one of the following media: regular mail, email, facsimile,internet, and an interactive voice response method.
 10. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising processing the item comprising at least oneof the following: a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service PriorityMail package, and a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package.11. The method of claim 5 further comprising utilizing as the trackingindicia at least one of the following: a bar code and a PLANET code. 12.The method of claim 6 further comprising utilizing as the trackingindicia at least one of the following: a bar code and a PLANET code. 13.A system for providing item sales and delivery service, comprising: acomponent for arranging over a communications system a sales transactionof an item between a seller and a buyer; a component for sending theitem through a delivery system directed toward the buyer; and acomponent for making a payment for at least one of the following: apurchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the component for arranging further comprises: a component forreceiving authorization from the buyer to transfer the payment from abuyer account for the purchase of the item; a component for debiting thebuyer account in the amount of the payment; and a component forcrediting an escrow account in the amount of the payment.
 15. The systemof claim 14, wherein the component for debiting the buyer accountcomprises at least one of the following: a component for billing thebuyer, a component for debiting buyer's checking account, a componentfor debiting buyer's credit card account, a component for debitingbuyer's debit card account, and a component for receiving cash from thebuyer.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the component for arrangingfurther comprises: a component for sending to the buyer a receiptidentifying the sales transaction and payment amount; and a componentfor crediting an escrow account in the amount of the payment when thebuyer pays the amount of the payment at a retail unit.
 17. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the component for sending further comprises: acomponent for generating a tracking indicia identifying the salestransaction when a notice is received by the seller over thecommunications system that the sales transaction has been arranged; anda component for placing the item in the delivery system directed towardthe buyer, the tracking indicia attached to the item.
 18. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the component for making further comprises: acomponent for reading a tracking indicia when the item is delivered tothe buyer, the tracking indicia identifying the sales transaction andplaced on the item; and a component for releasing the payment from anescrow account.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the component forreleasing further comprises: a component for releasing the purchaseprice of the item from the escrow account to the seller if the paymentincluded the purchase price; a component for releasing the delivery feeof the item from the escrow account to a delivery system operator if thepayment included the delivery fee; and a component for releasing a feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services of the item fromthe escrow account to the delivery system operator if the paymentincluded the fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.20. The system of claim 18, wherein the component for releasing furthercomprises: a component for releasing the purchase price of the item fromthe escrow account to the buyer if the payment included the purchaseprice and the buyer decides to return the item to the seller; acomponent for releasing the delivery fee of the item from the escrowaccount to a delivery system operator if the payment included thedelivery fee; and a component for releasing a fee for any otherbuyer-selected delivery-related services of the item from the escrowaccount to the delivery system operator if the payment included the feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.
 21. The systemof claim 13, wherein the communications system comprises at least one ofthe following media: regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, and aninteractive voice response system.
 22. The system of claim 13, whereinthe item comprises at least one of the following: a mailpiece, a UnitedStates Postal Service Priority Mail package, and a United States PostalService Express Mail Package.
 23. The system of claim 17, wherein thetracking indicia comprises at least one of the following: a bar code anda PLANET code.
 24. The system of claim 18, wherein the tracking indiciacomprises at least one of the following: a bar code and a PLANET code.25. A method for providing item sales and delivery service, comprising:arranging over a communications system a sales transaction of an itembetween a seller and a buyer; providing by the buyer over thecommunications system a delivery address for the item; authorizing thecreation of delivery shipping labels, the authorizing performed by theseller over the communications system upon verification of a payment bythe buyer over the communications system; and transferring the item bythe seller to a delivery system operator for association of the deliveryshipping label with the item.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein thearranging stage further comprises: receiving authorization from thebuyer to transfer the payment from a buyer account for the purchase ofthe item; debiting the buyer account in the amount of the payment; andcrediting an escrow account in the amount of the payment.
 27. The methodof claim 26 further comprising debiting the buyer account by at leastone of the following: billing the buyer, debiting buyer's checkingaccount, debiting buyer's credit card account, debiting buyer's debitcard account, and receiving cash from the buyer.
 28. The method of claim25, wherein the arranging stage further comprises: sending to the buyera receipt identifying the sales transaction and the payment amount; andcrediting an escrow account in the amount of the payment when the buyerpays the amount of the payment at a retail unit.
 29. The method of claim25 further comprising utilizing in the communications system at leastone of the following media: regular mail, email, facsimile, internet,and an interactive voice response method.
 30. The method of claim 25further comprising placing the item in at least one of the following: amailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, and aUnited States Postal Service Express Mail Package.
 31. The method ofclaim 25 further comprising processing the payment comprising at leastone of the following: a purchase price of the item, a delivery fee, anda fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.
 32. Themethod of claim 25 further comprising delivering the item by thedelivery system operator to the buyer.
 33. A system for providing itemsales and delivery service, comprising: a component for arranging over acommunications system a sales transaction of an item between a sellerand a buyer; a component for providing by the buyer over thecommunications system a delivery address for the item; a component forauthorizing the creation of delivery shipping labels, the authorizingperformed by the seller over the communications system upon verificationof a payment by the buyer over the communications system; and acomponent for transferring the item by the seller to a delivery systemoperator for association of the delivery shipping label with the item.34. The system of claim 33, wherein the component for arranging furthercomprises: a component for receiving authorization from the buyer totransfer the payment from a buyer account for the purchase of the item;a component for debiting the buyer account in the amount of the payment;and a component for crediting an escrow account in the amount of thepayment.
 35. The system of claim 34, wherein the buyer account comprisesat least one of the following: billing the buyer, a buyer's checkingaccount, a buyer's credit card account, a buyer's debit card account,and cash from the buyer.
 36. The system of claim 33, wherein thecomponent for arranging further comprises: a component for sending tothe buyer a receipt identifying the sales transaction and the paymentamount; and a component for crediting an escrow account in the amount ofthe payment when the buyer pays the amount of the payment at a retailunit.
 37. The system of claim 33, wherein the communications systemutilizes at least one of the following media: regular mail, e-mail,facsimile, internet, and an interactive voice response method.
 38. Thesystem of claim 33, wherein the item is placed in at least one of thefollowing: a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mailpackage, and a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package. 39.The system of claim 33, wherein the payment comprises at least one ofthe following: a purchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services.
 40. The systemof claim 33 further comprising a component for delivering the item bythe delivery system operator to the buyer.
 41. A method for providingitem sales and delivery service, comprising: arranging over acommunication system a sales transaction of an item between a seller anda buyer, the communications system comprising at least one of thefollowing media: regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, and aninteractive voice response system, the item comprising at least one ofthe following: a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mailpackage, and a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package;receiving an authorization from the buyer to transfer a payment from abuyer account for the purchase of the item, the buyer account comprisingat least one of the following: a bill sent to the buyer, a buyer'schecking account, a buyer's credit card account, a buyer's debit cardaccount, and cash from the buyer, the payment comprising at least one ofthe following: a purchase price of the item, a delivery fee, and a feefor any other buyer-selected delivery-related services; debiting thebuyer account in the amount of the payment; crediting an escrow accountin the amount of the payment; generating a tracking indicia identifyingthe sales transaction when a notice is received by the seller over thecommunications system that the sales transaction has been arranged, thetracking indicia comprising at least one of the following: a bar codeand a PLANET code; placing the item in a delivery system directed towardthe buyer, the tracking indicia attached to the item; reading thetracking indicia when the item is delivered to the buyer; releasing thepurchase price of the item from the escrow account to the seller if thepayment included the purchase price; releasing the purchase price of theitem from the escrow account to the buyer if the payment included thepurchase price and the buyer decides to return the item to the seller;releasing the delivery fee of the item from the escrow account to adelivery system operator if the payment included the delivery fee; andreleasing a fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-related servicesof the item from the escrow account to the delivery system operator ifthe payment included the fee for any other buyer-selecteddelivery-related services.
 42. A method for providing item sales anddelivery service, comprising: receiving authorization from a buyer overa the communications system to transfer a payment from a buyer accountfor the purchase of an item, the communications system utilizing atleast one of the following media: regular mail, e-mail, facsimile,internet, and an interactive voice response method, the paymentcomprising at least on of the following: a purchase price of the item, adelivery fee, and a fee for any other buyer-selected delivery-relatedservices; debiting the buyer account in the amount of the payment,debiting the buyer account by at least one of the following: billing thebuyer, debiting buyer's checking account, debiting buyer's credit cardaccount, debiting buyer's debit card account, and receiving cash fromthe buyer; crediting an escrow account in the amount of the payment;providing by the buyer over the communications system a delivery addressfor the item; authorizing the creation of delivery shipping labels, theauthorizing performed by a seller over the communications system uponverification of the payment by the buyer over the communications system;transferring the item by the seller to a delivery system operator forassociation of the delivery shipping label with the item; and deliveringthe item by the delivery system operator to the buyer.